Ted Danson Was “Dead Wrong” About His Cheers Co-Star Shelley Long
Even Hollywood legends make mistakes. Ted Danson, the beloved star of Cheers, recently admitted he was completely off-base about one of the show’s most important casting decisions. During an episode of his SiriusXM podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, Danson revealed his initial doubts about Shelley Long joining the iconic sitcom.
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The Casting Decision That Almost Didn’t Happen
Danson, who played bartender Sam Malone for all 11 seasons of Cheers, told guest Andy Richter about his early misjudgment: “One of my first obvious ones was Cheers casting Shelley Long. That’s all wrong,” Danson recalled telling producers. He went as far as saying, “she’d be terrible for that.”
This skepticism came despite the fact that Danson and Long actually auditioned together as a pair. As Danson revealed on the Smartless podcast in 2024, their early working relationship was far from smooth. “It was hard for us sometimes to be in the room together,” he admitted, acknowledging the tension that fueled years of feud rumors.
From Doubts to Emmy-Winning Success
Danson quickly realized how spectacularly wrong he’d been. “Right out of the shoot she became this instant, brilliant character actor doing a brilliant job,” he said on his podcast. He praised Long for “serving the entire thing perfectly” and even credited her with the show’s early success: “that first year she put us on the map.”
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The proof was in the awards. The year after Cheers premiered, Long won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Diane Chambers. This prestigious honor validated her casting and silenced any remaining doubters.
Not Danson’s Only On-Set Misjudgment
While his skepticism about Long became his most famous misstep, Danson admitted it wasn’t his only one. On Everybody Knows Your Name, he recalled giving questionable direction to co-star Mary Steenburgen (who he would later marry): “I’ll say ‘turn right here,’ and she’ll say, ‘thank you, but I know it’s left,'” he shared. Danson humorously noted that when actors followed their instincts rather than his suggestions, the scenes often worked better.
Final Thoughts: The Value of Being Wrong
Danson’s story serves as an important reminder that even experienced professionals can misjudge talent and chemistry. What makes a true professional isn’t never being wrong, but being able to recognize and admit when you are. His willingness to publicly acknowledge these mistakes decades later shows remarkable humility. It’s also a testament to the magic of Cheers – a show that succeeded despite (or perhaps because of) the creative tensions behind the scenes. The next time you’re certain about a judgment call at work, remember even Ted Danson’s instincts were sometimes off – and that’s okay.
